Table 2 Study outcome measures and corresponding questionnaires
Variable | Questionnaire | Details |
|---|---|---|
Primary Outcome | Â | Â |
Sexual functioning | • Assesses overall sexual functioning • 19 items; 5- and 6-point Likert scales • Subscales: sexual desire; arousal; lubrication; orgasm; satisfaction; pain • Total score*: 2-36/Subscale scores*: desire 1.2-6; arousal 0-6; lubrication 0-6; orgasm 0-6; satisfaction 0-6. Higher score indicates better overall sexual functioning. A subscale score of 0 indicates no sexual activity • Time frame: past 4 weeks • Cronbach’s alpha in a gynaecologic cancer survivors group: total score: α = 0.94; subscale scores: 0.85 ≤ α ≤ 0.94 [46] • We added 4 items (6- and 7-point Likert scales) to assess the average frequency and amount of pleasure experienced during sexual activity without sexual intercourse and sexual activity with sexual intercourse • As our study sample consists of partnered as well as unpartnered women, we added an answer option ‘not applicable, no partner’ to the two items concerning the partner relationship | |
Secondary Outcomes | Â | Â |
Credibility of analogue therapy rationales | CEQ [47] | • Assesses the credibility of the rationales and procedures of the intervention and the optimal CAU control group • 4 items; 9-point Likert scale • Subscales: credibility; 1 single item (expectancy) • Cronbach’s alpha: credibility subscale: 0.81 ≤ α ≤ 0.86 [48] |
Generic health-related quality of life related to gynaecological cancer | EORTC QLQ-C30 [41] | • Assesses QoL of cancer patients • 30 items; 4- and 7-point Likert scales • Subscales: 5 function subscales: physical; role; emotional; cognitive; social and 3 symptom subscales: fatigue; nausea/vomiting; pain. Single items: dyspnoea; sleep disturbance; appetite loss; constipation; diarrhoea; financial impact. One global QoL scale • Subscale scores: 0-100. Higher score indicates higher level of functioning (for the function subscales) and greater degree of symptoms (for symptom subscales and/or single items) • Time frame: past week • Cronbach’s alpha: subscales: 0.54 ≤ α ≤ 0.86 [41] |
Vaginal symptoms and body image concerns | EORTC QLQ-CX24 [37] | • Assesses disease-specific and treatment-specific aspects of QoL in patients with cervical cancer • 24 items; 4-point Likert scale • Subscales: symptom experience; body image; sexual/vaginal functioning. Single-items: lymphedema; peripheral neuropathy; menopausal symptoms; sexual worry; sexual activity; sexual enjoyment • Subscale score: 0-100. Higher score indicates better level of functioning (for items regarding sexual activity and sexual enjoyment) and higher level of symptoms (for all other items and scales) • Time frame: past week (for the subscales and single-items lymphedema, peripheral neuropathy and menopausal symptoms); past 4 weeks (for the single-items sexual worry, sexual activity and sexual enjoyment) • Cronbach’s alpha: subscales: 0.72 ≤ α ≤ 0.87 [37] |
Urological and gastrointestinal symptoms and sexual interest | EORTC QLQ-EN24 [42] | • Assesses urological and gastrointestinal symptoms, and sexual functioning • 10 items#; 4-point Likert scale • Subscales: urological symptoms; gastrointestinal symptoms. Single-item: sexual interest • Subscale score: 0-100. Higher score indicates higher level of urological and gastrointestinal symptoms and higher sexual interest • Time frame: past week • Cronbach’s alpha: subscales: 0.74 ≤ α ≤ 0.75 [42] |
Quality of life | • Assesses (general) health • 5 items; 5-point Likert scale & Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) • 5 dimensions: mobility; self-care; usual activities; pain/discomfort; anxiety/depression. One VAS for general health • Time frame: today | |
Sexual distress | • Assesses distress related to sexual dysfunction • 12 items; 5-point Likert scale • Total score: 0-48. Higher score indicates higher level of sexual distress • Time frame: past 30 days • Cronbach’s alpha: 0.86 ≤ α ≤ 0.94 [39] | |
Fear of coital and non-coital sexual activity | FSQ [38] | • Assesses aspects of fear of sexuality • 8 items; 5-point Likert scale • Subscales: fear of non-penetration sexual activity; fear of coitus/vaginal penetration • Subscale scores: fear of non-coital sexual activity 0-20; fear of coitus 0-12. Higher score indicates higher fear • Cronbach’s alpha: 0.82 ≤ α ≤ 0.86 [38] |
Psychological distress | • Assesses psychological distress • 14 items; 4 point Likert scale • Subscales: depression (HADS-D); anxiety (HADS-A) • Total score: 0-42/Subscale scores: 0-21. Higher score indicates more psychological distress • Time frame: past week • Cronbach’s alpha: HADS-D: 0.67 ≤ α ≤ 0.90; HADS-A: 0.68 ≤ α ≤ 0.93 [52] | |
Gynaecological cancer treatment related distress | • Assesses current treatment related distress • 15 items; 4-point scale • Subscales: intrusion; avoidance • Total score: 0-75/Subscale scores: intrusion 0-35; avoidance 0-40. Higher score indicates: higher tendency to be triggered by stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s) (for items regarding intrusion); higher tendency to avoid situations that are reminders of the treatment (for items regarding avoidance) • Time frame: past week • Cronbach’s alpha: total score: 0.87 ≤ α ≤ 0.96; intrusion subscale: 0.85 ≤ α ≤ 0.95; avoidance subscale: 0.77 ≤ α ≤ 0.91 [53] | |
Relationship dissatisfaction | • Assesses marital dissatisfaction • 10 items; 9-point Likert scale (range 0-8) • Total scale-score: 0-80. Higher score indicates higher marital dissatisfaction • Time frame: past 2 weeks • Cronbach’s alpha in non-distressed group: 0.87 ≤ α ≤ 0.88 [54] |